Article of apparel



April 11, 1939. E. F. ALEXANDER ARTICLE OF APPAREL Filed Feb. 1, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet l 1. l5 INVENTOR- idii/z fflaxander B W WITNE%S:@ 452% .4'I'TORNEYS.

April ll, 1939. E. F. ALEXANDER ARTICLE OF APPAREL Filed Feb. 1, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: fldiih 2? filexande BY @M W WITN??? wlk ATTORNEYS.

" of the band, in its thickness.

Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to apparel, and it has reference moreparticularly to articles of apparel capable of multiple uses.

The chief aim of my invention is to provide an article of apparel whichis readily and quickly convertible for use either as a head covering,

as a neck piece or scarf, or as a handbag, which is neat and highlyattractive in any condition of use, and which, moreover, can be producedat small cost.

Other objects and attendant advantages will appear from the followingdetailed description of the attached drawings, wherein Fig. I is a viewshowing one form of my invention arranged for use as ahead covering.

Fig. II shows the inner face of the article when laid out flat.

Fig. III is a view similar to Fig. II but showing the outer face of thearticle.

Fig. IV is a cross-sectional taken as indicated by the arrows IV--IV inFig. II.

Fig. V is a perspective view showing the article arranged for use as ahandbag.

Fig. VI is a perspective view showing the article arranged for use as aneck piece or scarf.

Figs. VII-XII are views corresponding to Figs. I-V showing a modifiedembodiment of my invention.

Referring to Figs. I-VI of these illustrations first, my improvedarticle of apparel has the form of a flat band I made from twothicknesses of fabric 2, 3 which are seamed around the edges after themanner shown at 4 in Fig. IV, with incidental provision of a pocket 5 inthe interior As pictured in Figs. II and III, the band I has theconfiguration of a butterfly, that is to say, it is flared symmetricallyoutward in opposite directions from its transverse medial axis to itsends, whereof the edges 6, I are complementarily inclined in respect tosaid medial, so that beyond the region of flare the ends of the band aretapered. The space or pocket at the interior of the band I is accessiblethrough a slit opening 8 in one side of said band within the area of thelobe or wing 9 of the latter, see Figs. II and IV, the slit beingclosable by a slide fastener conventionally indicated at II. Attached tothe opposite side of the lobe or wing 9 adjacent the tip end I2 of theband (Figs. II and III) is a securing means in the form of a button I3,and at the tip endI4- of the lobe or wing III is a complemental securingmeans in the form of a button hole I5 capable of receiving said button.As will be seen from Figs. 11 and III; these tips I2, I4 are the endcorners of the band lobes 9, 9 which are more remote from one another.

The band I is convertible into a head covering by placing it about thehead (with the pocket slit at the inside) and interengaging the buttonI3 with the button hole I5 at the nape of the neck, and by virtue of itsbutterfly configuration produces an attractive bonnet-like hat. Asclearly shown in Fig. I, the band I is of length and width to extendaround or encircle the head and afford substantial coverage, and to beheld on the head properly by the joining together of the band ends bythe securing devices I3, I5. On interconnecting the button I3 with thebutton hole I5, the band I also becomes a sling for the purposes of ahandbag which may be grasped in the hand, or, as shown in Fig. V, hungover the arm with the pocket slit 8 concealed at the in side. The bandmay also be utilized as a neck piece or scarf as shown in Fig. VI.

In the form shown in Figs. I-VI, my improved article of apparel isparticularly advantageous to women bathers for beach wear, and for thepurpose of such wear, is in practice made from relatively cheap washablematerial such as sheet rubber, cotton, etc. When arranged and employedas a head covering, the device not only protects the top of the crown,but shades the eyes, as will be evident from Fig. I. When arranged as ahandbag, the pocket of the band may be used for cigarettes, matches,goggles, and other small articles essential to the comfort and enjoymentof the bather.

The modified form of my invention featured in Figs. VIIXII is like thatof Figs. I-VI except as regards the configuration of the band Ia and thelocation of the access opening Set for the pocket 5a. Here the flaringlobes 9a and Illa are symmetrical with both the longitudinal andtransverse medial axes of the band, and the opposite ends are taperedsomewhat with formation of obtuse angular tips I2a, Ida. The slit 8a, inthis instance, extends longitudinally of the band Ia, and whilecentrally located with respect to the ends, is offset somewhat to oneside of the longitudinal median as shown in Fig. VIII. As in the firstdescribed embodiment, the button I3a is attached adjacentthe tip on theside of the band opposite to that occupied by the slit Ba, and a buttonhole formed adjacent the tip I do. The button and button-hole are shownin Figs. VIII and IX as substantially on the longitudinal axis or medialof the band Ia. All other features in Figs. VII-XII not specificallymentioned but having their counterparts in the first describedembodiment are identified with the same reference numerals previouslyemployed, with addition however of the letter a in each instance forconvenience of distinction and preclusion of the necessity forrepetitive description.

When the band la is to be converted for use as a head coverng, it isfirst folded along its longitudinal median, with the slit 8a at theinside, and then applied about the head so that the ends I21: and I 4ameet at the forehead, whereupon the button I311 is engaged with thebutton hole a as in Fig. VII. The effect here produced is that of atiara, with the superposed coincident corners IS, IS and l1, I! of thejoined tapered ends Ha, Ha prominently upstanding together, at the frontof the head.

To convert the modified device into a handbag, the band I a is doubledon its transverse median (Without longitudinal pre-folding), and thebutton l3a engaged in the button hole l5a with resultant formation of asling for convenience of carriage in the hand, or, as suggested in Fig.XI, over the forearm.

For use as a scarf, the band la is longitudinally folded and placedabout the neck as shown in Fig. XII.

The modified band la, like the band I first described, may be made fromwashable material for bathers wear. It is, however, to be understoodthat either type may, if desired, be produced from more expensivematerials like plain or figured silk, satin, and plush or the like witha jewelled or other highly-ornamented fastener button, for dress wear,in which case the pocket is intended to serve as a repository forgloves, cosmetics, etc.

It is to be understood that my improved article of apparel may be shapedotherwise than herein illustrated by way of example depending upon theeffect desired in the head gear conversion of the same or to conformwith seasonal style changes. I moreover do not consider myself confinedto the precise details of construction and arrangement hereinillustrated and described, since these can be extensively varied withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A combination handbag and head covering comprising a fabric band oflength and width to encircle the head and afford substantial coveragetherefor, and having in its thickness a pocket with an access openingthereto; and cooperative securing devices at the opposite ends of saidband for joining said ends together, either to hold the band around thehead as a covering, or to form a sling to be worn over the arm as ahandbag.

2. An article according to claim 1 wherein the band flares wider fromits transverse medial toward both ends.

3. An article according to claim 1 wherein the band flares wider fromits transverse medial toward both ends, substantially symmetrically withrespect to its longitudinal medial axis, and the securing devices aresubstantially on said longitudinal axis, so that the band can be foldedlengthwise and Worn around the head with the four corners of its joinedends prominently upstanding together.

4. An article according to'claim 1 wherein the band is substantially ofbutterfly configuration, with its securing devices at its corners whichare more remote from one another, so that it forms a bonnet shading theeyes when it is worn around the head as set forth.

EDITH F. ALEXANDER.

